Show-case



(R0 Model.)

J. 0. WHARTON.

Show Case.

No. 233,308. Patented Oct. 12,1880.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

Zfl/umfi J 1; WJMV BY l ATTORNEYS.

UNITE STATES PATENT rrrca.

JOHN G. VVHARTON, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SHOW-CA8 E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,308, dated October 12, 1880.

Application filed April 30, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN G. WHAR'rON, of Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Show-(Jase. of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved shelving which is perfectly dust-proof, exhibits the articles placed thereon to the greatest advantage, and is ornamental.

The invention consists in a series of shelves provided with glass fronts, forming closed boxes or compartments, which are arranged in such a manner that each shelf projects beyond the next lower one, thus permitting receptacles containing the article to be exhibited to be placed upon said shelves through apertures in the bottom thereof, which receptacles are provided with some suitable locking device for holding them on said shelves.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of my improvement in shelving. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of the receptacle to be placed onto the shelf. Fig. 4 is' a plan view of the bottom piece of a modification of said receptacles.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Any desired number of shelves A A are arranged above each other in such a manner that one shelf always projects beyond the next lower shelf, and the under side of the projecting part of said shelf is thus exposed to view, as shown in Fig. 1. The shelves are provided with a glass front, B, extending from one shelf to the other, and thus forming a closed com partment.- Each shelf is provided with a rear longitudinal partition, 0, which may be pivoted or hinged or arranged to slide, these partitions being arranged at such a distance from the front edge of the shelves as to give sufficient space for the articles to be placed upon said shelves. The space D between the wall of the room and the partition O maybe used for storing articles. The glass front B may be hinged or pivoted or arranged to slide, and may be replaced by a frame with mica panes, or by some suitable netting, or by an opaque partition, as may be desired.

The projecting parts of the shelves are pro- (No model.)

vided with a series of apertures, E, which are preferably circular, but may be of any desired shape, into which apertures the receptacles F F, containing the article to be placed on the shelf, are passed. The said receptacles F preferably consist of a semi-cylindrical case, G, of any desired material, attached to a circular bottom piece, H, provided with a knob or projection, I, and top plate, V. The case G is provided with a flange, J, at each side, which flanges fit into corresponding notches K K in the shelves A, so that the flanged case can be passed through the aperture, the flanges J J passing through the notches K K. If the case is then slightly turned the lower ends of the flanges J J will rest upon the shelf, and thus hold the case; or the case may be constructed with or without flanges; but the bottom piece, H, is provided with a central pivoted rightangled rod, L, which rests in a countersunk part, M, of the bottom piece, H, and projects beyond the edge of said bottom piece, whereas the other end of said rod is attached to the button N at the end of the knob I.

The shelving may also be arranged in such a manner that the lowest shelf projects most, and the receptacles O are inserted from on top; or the shelves may be arranged to insert the receptacles from the side.

The shelving is used as follows: A druggists bottle, P, or any other suitable article, is placed into the receptacle F, and the said receptacle is passed through one of the apertures E, and then turned so that the lower ends of the flanges J J rest upon the shelf. As soon as all the receptacles of one shelf are in place a bar, Q, hinged to the under side of said shelf, may be placed under said receptacles, and is then secured by means of a padlock, R, or other device, thus holding the receptacles more safely. The receptacles may also be provided with a -top plate, V, which is larger than the aperture,

so that the receptacles cannot accidentally fall out, and, moreover, it will exclude dust and flies. The receptacles may also be held on the shelves by turning the rod L so that it lies up against one side of the countersunk part M, then passing its end through the notch K, and rotating it so that it rests upon the shelf, and thus holds the receptacle in place.

The within-described shelving is dust-proof, can be cleaned very easily, and without any danger of throwing down the articles on the shelves with the duster, and the several arti' cles will be very handy if the shelves are arranged so that they can be reached from the floor of the room.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Shelving made substantially as herein shown and described, and consisting of a series of shelves provided with glass or other suitable fronts. one projecting beyond the other, and forming closed compartments, into which receptacles containing the several articles are passed through apertures in said shelves and are held therein by flanges or a projecting rod, as set forth.

JOHN CRIDDLE WHARTON.

Witnesses:

WM. H. \VHARTON, J. M. MARTIN. 

